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Yankees Get Granderson in 3-Team Trade

Center fielder Curtis Granderson came to the Yankees in a three-team deal that sent two players to the Diamondbacks and four to the Tigers.Credit
Jeff Kowalsky/European Pressphoto Agency

INDIANAPOLIS — Johnny Damon, the incumbent speedy left-handed-hitting outfielder with power, did not fault the Yankees for finding a new one on Tuesday. Damon said he understood why the Yankees traded for Curtis Granderson of the Detroit Tigers.

“New York has to try to get better on every front, because every team is going to keep gunning for them,” Damon said by telephone. “I think having a guy like Granderson, who has the potential to be a really good player, if you can pick up a guy like that and not lose too many people from your big-league club, that’s a positive.”

The Yankees did that on the second day of the winter meetings, trading pitchers Phil Coke and Ian Kennedy and the outfield prospect Austin Jackson in a three-team deal for Granderson, a durable All-Star considered a strong defensive center fielder.

The addition of Curtis Granderson will bolster the Yankees’ defense in the outfield. Credit
Duane Burleson/Associated Press

The acquisition of Granderson does not preclude the Yankees’ re-signing Damon, but it puts them in a strong position in his negotiations. The Yankees made a three-year commitment to Granderson, who is owed $25.75 million through 2012 and turns 29 in March. But they do not want to sign Damon for three years.

Damon does not seem interested in offering the Yankees a discount. He is 36 years old and has not exceeded 150 games since 2002. But he always plays hard, and his production has not changed much the last few seasons. He also believes his defensive shortcomings have been overstated.

“I think there’s still a window for me to come back,” Damon said. “I don’t know why certain people say certain things about me. The bottom line is, I’ve been one of the best players in the league for a long time, and I’ve shown it the past couple of years.

“I think, early on last season, my defense was a little bit erratic, but once I figured out the ballpark and figured a few things out, I got better and I actually was a positive for us.”

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With Granderson patrolling center field, Johnny Damon, left, could be replaced in left field by Melky Cabrera. Credit
Matt Campbell/European Pressphoto Agency

Damon would not specify how many years he is seeking, saying he would leave that to his agent, Scott Boras. Damon said he was in regular contact with Boras, adding that the last two times he was a free agent, he did not agree to a deal until after Dec. 20.

“I’m not worried about a thing,” Damon said.

Damon was clearly better than Granderson last season, when Granderson hit just .249, including .183 against left-handers, and Damon hit .282, including .269 against left-handers. Granderson also had 141 strikeouts, 43 more than Damon.

But Granderson had more homers than Damon (30 to 24) and has played more games in recent seasons. Granderson had an on-base percentage above .360 in 2007 and 2008 and, like Damon, he is considered a good teammate who is comfortable with the news media.

With Granderson in center, the Yankees would likely use Melky Cabrera in left field and Nick Swisher in right, with Brett Gardner also in the mix. If Damon returns, he could rotate among left field and designated hitter.

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Ian Kennedy missed most of last season because of an arm aneurysm. He was the Yankees' first-round draft pick in 2006.Credit
Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Hideki Matsui is the incumbent designated hitter, but the Yankees have so far made no efforts to bring him back. Matsui will soon work out for interested teams to show that he can play outfield, which the Yankees would not want him to do.

Jackson, perhaps the Yankees’ top prospect, hit .300 at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, but had 123 strikeouts and just four home runs. He turns 23 in February and might someday be as good as Granderson. In trading him, the Yankees decided to grab Granderson now rather than wait for Jackson to develop.

The Yankees believe they are deep in starting pitching prospects and left-handed relievers, so they were comfortable parting with Kennedy and Coke, especially after another left-handed reliever, Mike Dunn, was removed from trade talks.

Reached at his home in Nevada on Tuesday, Kennedy said he had refined his two-seam fastball in the Arizona Fall League and believed that pitch would make a major difference for him this season.

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“Before, I couldn’t command my two-seamer; it was always tailing off the plate and no one would swing at it,” Kennedy said. “It would be really cool to do that famous Greg Maddux thing and start it at a left-hander’s front hip. I’d love to learn that. Right now, it’s something to get guys to swing at and put the ball in play and save pitches.”

Kennedy, who missed most of last season because of an arm aneurysm, was the Yankees’ first-round draft pick in 2006 and appeared in 14 games over the next three seasons, going 1-4 with a 6.03 earned run average.

“The Yankees have treated me great since I was drafted,” Kennedy said. “If this happens, there’s no bad taste in my mouth or any lack of opportunity at all. I made it in one year; I’d say that’s a pretty good opportunity to have my shot.”

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said Monday that pitching was his priority, and the team still hopes to re-sign Andy Pettitte at the meetings, which end Thursday. They have offered Pettitte more than $10 million, and it seems likely Pettitte will sign earlier than he did last season, when he waited until Jan. 26 to sign an incentive-heavy deal.

“We’re talking and everything’s been cordial,” said an agent for Pettitte, Randy Hendricks. “But there’s no deadline on it.”

Cashman said he spoke twice with Hendricks on Tuesday and would keep talking. He could not address the Granderson deal because it was not official.